To the Desert of Atlas (2/3)

It's still as windy as ever! Everyone, please make sure not to lose sight of one another!

No problem, leave it to me! After all, I've already done this once!

aryavalokitesvaro bodhisattvo gambhirayam prajnaparamitayam caryam caramano vyavalokayati...

Hm!? It should be around here, but I see no sign or trace of it! Not even a building to serve as a guide!

Distance and direction are both correct! No one at the Round Table can match my sense of direction when traveling! Believe me!

I am confident of that! Well, unless what that man said was wrong! In that case we're out of luck!

A message from Lord Hundred Personas:

"Listen up, you all. The place you're looking for is Ozymandias's favorite ruin."

"It's a place that Ozymandias has no power over, a building that even he can't investigate."

"Lately, an odd figure has been frequently spotted around it. This is also very interesting."

"They say he wears a black cape and a turban, and that he is from the western lands. I hope that helps you identify him."

"Use this map to find the location. Leave it to me. I'm an expert when it comes to the desert."

"P.S. Ozymandias's divine beasts wander around the ruin. Don't fight them!"

...The message ends there. There is one more report from Lord Hundred Personas about the latest developments...

Oh, it's all right. It's probably nothing. Thanks for delivering the message!

Ouch, all this sand in my eyes... Anyway, the message mentioned someone from the western lands...

Do you think there's something about his appearance that'll make it obvious it's him? Like, some sort of clothing that stands out?

？！

...Yes. The region lies more to the south, but...

T.E. Lawrence, commonly known as Lawrence of Arabia, fits the description!

Ah, Lawrence! ...Who's that!?

Fouuu.

An Englishman who helped lead Egypt to independence! His story has also been made into a movie!

Wow, so even a figure like that can become a Heroic Spirit! But I'm afraid things just don't add up...

Ah, here you are! Sorry, it's an emergency!

？！

Eeeeeeeeeeeep!

Wh-What's with you guys!? S-Stop, no... Waaah, don't come this way!

A weird face on a lion's body? Creepy! Too creepy! Almost as bad as those monsters on Kunlun!

And laser beams!? Why do laser beams shoot out of its eyes!?

Quit it, quit with the projectiles! I'm a Caster, you should be coming at me with your fists!

Waah, Toutaaa! Fujimaru! Where'd you goooooo!?

...I've grasped the situation.

She's gotten lost in this sandstorm, huh...

Sorry, everyone... Believe it or not, she doesn't mean any ill will...

...Yes. If she could just stay calm, she'd be on par with the Knights of the Round Table...

？！

...Phew. The battle is over. Sanzang is safe.

That's great to hear. But... where is she?

Fou, fou.

Gosh, Touta. Honestly! You mustn't stray from your mentor, you hear?

A good disciple is supposed to be aware of his mentor at all times, not lose sight of her!

Hm. It's gotten to the point where replying would be stupid. If anything, I was the idiot.

It's true, you are a good mentor. I've never seen a monk who makes her disciple so frantic!

What's that? Was that a compliment? That was a compliment, wasn't it?

Yes, true, true. Looks like you're finally ready for the Sravaka, Touta!

I've no idea what she's saying, but I'm glad it all worked out.

It may have been in a panic, but she was able to ward off the sphinxes on her own.

...The sphinxes, you say? Um, is that...

？！

Su-fee-nn-ks? You mean those weird animals? There were lots of them over there...

Ah, that's it! The message said the Sun King's beasts would be hanging around the ruin we're looking for...

If you think about it, they serve as a landmark, huh? So is this also the Buddha's protection? How terrifying...

Sanzang, just go wherever you want. Leave the protection to us.

What, you want me to lead the way?

Well, why didn't you just say so?! I'd be happy to! Follow me!

Oh, but watch out, okay? The back of my neck's been tingling, sort of...

Like, it feels like something bad's closing in from behind, you know?

It's probably a violent boulder or something, so be sure to catch it when it comes rolling, alright?

A bad feeling, huh? I can't laugh at your intuition anymore... Looks like we'd better hurry.

Fou!